Tricycle Theatre agrees to accept funding from the Embassy of Israel in London
following furore over withdrawal of Jewish Film Festival

The Tricycle Theatre has backed down in its row with the UK Jewish Film Festival and agreed to accept funding from the Israeli Embassy.

The Tricycle’s director, Indhu Rubasingham, caused a furore earlier this month when she said the London theatre could not host a festival sponsored by any organisation “party to the current conflict” in Gaza.

Festival organisers said the demands were “entirely unacceptable” and withdrew their 26 planned film screenings from the London venue. The Tricycle had hosted the festival for the past eight years.

Today, a joint statement by the festival and the Tricycle stated: “Some weeks ago the UKJFF fell out, very publicly, with the Tricycle over a condition imposed by the Tricycle regarding funding. This provoked considerable public upset. Both organisations have come together to end that.

“Following lengthy discussions between The Tricycle and UKJFF, the Tricycle has now withdrawn its objection and invited back the UK Jewish Film Festival on the same terms as in previous years with no restrictions on funding from the Embassy of Israel in London.

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“The UKJFF and The Tricycle have agreed to work together to rebuild their relationship and although the Festival are not able to return in 2014, we hope to begin the process of rebuilding trust and confidence with a view to holding events in the future.

“We both profoundly hope that those who take differing views on the events of the last few weeks will follow our lead and come together to acknowledge that dialogue, reconciliation and engagement will resolve points of difference and ensure that cultural diversity thrives in all communities.”

The ban had split the artistic community, with opponents branding the theatre “anti-Semitic”. Actress Mauren Lipman said: “The Tricycle have decided to punish Jewish people in the diaspora for one view of what is taking place in the Middle East and that is quite unacceptable.”

Nicholas Hytner, director of the National Theatre, backed the decision and said: “It is entirely understandable that they felt obliged to insist that no government agency should sponsor the festival… I support Indhu Rubasingham and the Tricycle without reservation.”

The 2014 festival will take place at other venues in London, Manchester and Nottingham.